Dynamic adjustment of video quality

ABSTRACT

A video quality module receives data indicating a visibility status of a tab of a web browser running on a user device. The video quality module determines, based on the data indicating the visibility status of the tab whether the tab of the web browser is currently visible to a user of the user device, the tab of the web browser comprising a streaming media player. If the tab of the web browser is not currently visible to the user, the video quality module decreases a quality of a video component of a streaming media file playing in the streaming media player.

RELATED APPLICATION

This continuation application claims priority to U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/601,149 filed on Aug. 31, 2012 and is incorporated byreference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to the field of streaming media and, inparticular, to dynamic adjustment of video quality.

BACKGROUND

Streaming media is multimedia, such as video and audio content, which isreceived by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by astreaming provider. With streaming media, a client media player canstart playing media content before the entire file has been transmittedfrom a server, e.g., over a telecommunications network. For example, auser may visit a media streaming website using a web browser running ona personal computing device. The user may play multimedia content,including video and audio portions, in a media player from the mediastreaming website. The streaming provider may transmit the audio andvideo portions of the content to the personal computing device over anetwork, such as the Internet, which may be played back in the mediaplayer.

Many users stream multimedia content, including video and audiocomponents, to their personal computers. One example of the multimediacontent is a music video. In many cases, however, a user may performother tasks while the multimedia content is streaming, such as webbrowsing, using productivity applications, or other tasks. In thesecases, the website containing the media player is minimized or shiftedto the background and the user is effectively using the media player asa music only player. The video component of the multimedia contentcontinues to stream to the user's computer, using considerable networkbandwidth and resources, even though the video portion of the content isnot being viewed by the user.

SUMMARY

The following is a simplified summary of the disclosure in order toprovide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. Thissummary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is intendedto neither identify key or critical elements of the disclosure, nordelineate any scope of the particular implementations of the disclosureor any scope of the claims. Its sole purpose is to present some conceptsof the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detaileddescription that is presented later.

In one implementation, a video quality module receives data indicating avisibility status of a tab of a web browser running on a user device.Receiving the data may include sending a request for the visibilitystatus of the tab using the Page Visibility Application ProgrammingInterface (API) of the web browser. The video quality module determines,based on the data indicating the visibility status of the tab whetherthe tab of the web browser is currently visible to a user of the userdevice, the tab of the web browser comprising a streaming media player.In one implementation, the tab of the web browser includes a streamingmedia player playing a streaming media file from a web page. If the tabof the web browser is not currently visible to the user, the videoquality module decreases a quality of a video component of a streamingmedia file playing in the streaming media player. The tab of the webbrowser is not visible to the user if the tab is in the background ofthe web browser, behind one or more other tabs. In addition, the videoquality module may further halt a transmission of the video component ofthe streaming media file to the user device, while continuing totransmit an audio component of the streaming media file to the userdevice.

If the tab of web browser is currently visible to the user, the videoquality module determines if the video component is currently decreasedfrom a default setting. The tab of the web browser is visible to theuser if the tab is in the foreground of the web browser. If the videocomponent is currently decreased from the default setting, the videoquality module increases the quality of the video component to thedefault setting. If the video component is not currently decreased fromthe default setting, the video component maintains a current quality ofthe video component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network architecturein which implementations of the present disclosure may be implemented.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a visibility monitor fordetecting whether a user is currently viewing multimedia content,according to some implementations.

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a tabbed web browser for viewingmultimedia content, according to some implementations.

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a tabbed web browser for viewingmultimedia content, according to some implementations.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for the visibility stateof a tab in a web browser, according to some implementations.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a video quality module fordynamically adjusting video quality, according to some implementations.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for dynamically adjustingvideo quality, according to some implementations.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer system,according to some implementations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations are described for dynamically adjusting a video qualityof streaming media. In one implementation, a user requests thatmultimedia content, including video and audio components, be streamed toa personal computer or other user device. For example, the user may playa music video using a media streaming website accessed through a browserrunning on the user's computer. In many cases, however, the user mayperform other tasks while the multimedia content is streaming. Forexample, if the browser is a tabbed browser, the user may open a new taband view other web pages in the new tab. In this cases, the browser tabwith the media streaming website is minimized or shifted to thebackground and the user is effectively using the media player as a musicplayer, as the video component of the media is no longer visible. In oneimplementation, a visibility monitor running on the user's computerdetects that the media player is no longer visible to the user due tothe fact that the browser tab has been minimized or shifted to thebackground. For example, the browser may have an application programminginterface (API), such as the Page Visibility API, which other devicescan call to determine the visibility status of the tab containing themedia player. While details are provided herein specifically relating tovideos as an example for clarity of explanation, it shall be appreciatedthat such details may be equally applicable to other types of media,e.g., audio (e.g., music), images, documents, text (e.g., tweets),flash-content, etc., as applicable.

If, for example, the media server streaming the media content to theuser's computer receives an indication from the visibility monitor thatthe user is not currently viewing the music video, the media server candynamically adjust the quality of the streaming video component. In oneimplementation, the media server can decrease the quality of the videoto a lower resolution. In another implementation, the media sever canhalt streaming of the video component completely. In either case, theaudio component of the streaming media may remain unchanged, so that theuser can continue to hear the music video. Decreasing the quality orhalting streaming of the video component can save network bandwidth andresources, allowing them to be used for other computing tasks. If themedia server receives an indication from the visibility monitor that thetab containing the media player has been brought back to the foreground,the media server can increase the quality of the video or resumestreaming of the halted video stream. This allows the user to maintainan enjoyable experience while consuming the media content.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network architecturein which implementations of the present disclosure may be implemented.The network architecture 100 can include one or more user devices 110communicating with one or more servers, such as web server 120 and mediaserver 130 over one or more networks 140, according to oneimplementation. Network 140 can be a local area network (LAN), awireless network, a telephone network, a mobile communications network,a wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet, or similarcommunication system. User device 110 may be any type of computingdevice including a server computer, gateway computer, desktop computer,laptop computer, mobile communications device, cell phone, smart phone,hand-held computer, tablet computer, or similar computing device. Userdevice 110 may be variously configured with different features to enableviewing of multimedia content, such as images, videos, songs, etc.

Web server 120 and media server 130 may include a network-accessibleserver-based functionality, various data stores, and/or other dataprocessing equipment. The servers 120 and 130 may be implemented by asingle machine or a cluster of machines. As illustrated in FIG. 1, webserver 120 and media server 130 are separate devices. In anotherimplementation, however, web server 120 and media server 130 may becombined into a single machine or device. One or both of web server 120and media server 130 may be hosted, for example, by computer system 700of FIG. 7. In one implementation, web server 120 hosts web page 122. Webserver 120 can deliver web page 122 to user device 110 or another clientdevice using for example the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Webpage 122 may be part of, for example, a media content hosting websitethat allows users to upload, view and share, multimedia content.

In one implementation, media server 130 includes one or more media files132 and video quality module 134. Media file 132 may represent the audioand video content that a user plays through web page 122. For example,when a user of user device 110 views web page 122, using a web browser112 or other program running on user device 110, and requests to view acertain multimedia content, web server 120 can send a message to mediaserver 130 requesting media file 132. Media server 130 can initiatestreaming of media file 132 to user device 110 via network 140. In oneimplementation, media file 132 is a music video file, including both avisual and an audio component. In other implementations, however, mediafile 132 may be some other type of media file. In one implementation,user device 110 may additionally include visibility monitor 114.Visibility monitor 114 may determine if the user is actually viewing thestreaming multimedia content at a given point in time based on a user'sbehavior with respect to the streaming media in web browser 112. Someimplementations of visibility monitor 114 are discussed in more detailbelow.

Video quality module 134, running on media server 130, can receive anindication from visibility monitor 114 of whether the user us actuallyviewing the streaming media. In one implementation, based on thereceived indication, video quality module 134 can dynamically adjust thequality of the video portion of the streaming media to save bandwidthand other network resources. For example, if video quality module 134receives an indication that the user is not viewing the streaming media(e.g., because a tab of web browser 112 used to view web page 122 hasbeen minimized or shifted to the background in favor of another tab orapplication), video quality module 134 can optionally halt streaming thevideo component of the media or decrease a quality of the video streamto save bandwidth. An audio component of the media stream may continueto be transmitted to user device 110, so that if the user is stilllistening to the audio, the user's consumption is uninterrupted. Someimplementations of video quality module 134 are discussed in more detailbelow.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a visibility monitor fordetecting whether a user is currently viewing multimedia content,according to some implementations of the present disclosure. In oneimplementation, visibility monitor 114 includes request receiving module202, visibility state determining module 204 and request respondingmodule 206. This arrangement of modules may be a logical separation, andin other implementations, these modules or other components can becombined together or separated in further components, according to aparticular implementation. In one implementation, storage device 240 isconnected to visibility monitor 114 and includes tab visibility status242. In one implementation, user device 110 may include visibilitymonitor 114 and storage device 240. In another implementation, storagedevice 240 may be external to user device 110 and may be connected touser device 110 over a network or other connection. In otherimplementations user device 110 may include different and/or additionalcomponents which are not shown to simplify the description. Storagedevice 240 may include one or more mass storage devices which caninclude, for example, flash memory, magnetic or optical disks, or tapedrives; read-only memory (ROM); random-access memory (RAM); erasableprogrammable memory (e.g., EPROM and EEPROM); flash memory; or any othertype of storage medium.

In one implementation, request receiving module 202 receives requests,for example, from media server 130, for the visibility status of aparticular tab of web browser 112. The request may identify the tab ofweb browser 112 in which a media player is running to which media serveris currently, was previously, or is about to stream media content, suchas media file 132. In one implementation, the request is in the form ofan API call made, for example, to visibility monitor 114. In oneimplementation, visibility monitor 114 is the Page Visibility API. ThePage Visibility API may be a standard interface that is included by avendor of web browser 112. The Page Visibility API allows applicationsto request the visibility state of a document or web page beingdisplayed by web browser 112. In other implementations, visibilitymonitor 114 may include some other API or specification. Upon receivingthe request, request receiving module 202 may forward the request to, orotherwise notify, visibility state determining module 204 that therequest has been received from media server 130. In otherimplementations, the request may be received from some other sourcebesides media server 130.

Visibility state determining module 204 can determine whether therequested tab of web browser 112 is currently visible to a user. FIG. 3Aillustrates web browser 112, according to one implementation. In thisimplementation, web browser 112 includes one or more browsing tabs 310,320 and browser controls 330. Browsing tabs 310 and 320 allow multipleweb pages to be viewed in a single browser window. For example, browsingtab 310 may display web page 122 including media player 312. In oneimplementation, media player 312 may also include a set of controls 314to control playback of media content. When the first browsing tab 310 isselected or activated, web page 122 may be visible to the user, assumingno other windows are placed on top of the window for web browser 112.Any additional tabs, such as browsing tab 320 are in the background, andthe content displayed therein is generally not visible to the user.Visibility state determining module 204 can determine if browsing tab310 (i.e., the tab containing web page 122 and media player 312) iscurrently selected, activated, or in the foreground of web browser 112.If so, visibility state determining module 204 can return a value of“visible” and store that value in an entry in tab visibility statusinformation 242 corresponding to tab 310. If another browsing tab 320were activated, and browsing tab 310 was in the background, visibilitystate determining module 204 can return a value of “hidden.” In oneimplementation, visibility state determining module 204 checks thestatus of tabs 310 and 320 in response to receiving the request. Inother implementations, however, visibility state determining module 204can check the status of tabs 310 and 320 at periodic intervals or canupdate the status in tab visibility status information 242 each time thestatus changes. In these implementations, rather than checking thestatus of each tab, visibility state determining module 204 can justread the stored values from tab visibility status information 242.

In one implementation, when the user moves browsing tab 310 to thebackground, the visibility status of browsing tab 310 can change. FIG.3B illustrates web browser 112, in this situation. In thisimplementation, a second browsing tab 320 is selected. The user mayselect tab 320 or switch between browsing tabs using, for example,browser controls 330, using a computer mouse or other pointer device, bytapping the selected tab if user device includes a touch sensitivedisplay, or by some other means. In one implementation, browsing tab 320displays a different web page 322, which may include text 324 and images326, 328. Media player 312 remains running in browsing tab 310, which isnow in the background. In one implementation, visibility statedetermining module 204 can update the status of browsing tabs 310 and320 in tab visibility status information 242.

In one implementation, request responding module 206 can respond to therequest for the visibility status of a particular tab. Requestresponding module 206 can read the current value stored in tabvisibility status information 242 for the particular tab and send aresponse, including the value, to the requestor. In one implementationwhere the requestor is media server 130, request responding module 206can send the response over network 140. Request responding module 206can send an update with the state information of each tab to mediaserver 130 in response to the request, periodically, or each time thestatus of a tab is updated in tab visibility status information 242.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for the visibility stateof a tab in a web browser, according to some implementations. The method400 may be performed by processing logic that comprises hardware (e.g.,circuitry, dedicated logic, programmable logic, microcode, etc.),software (e.g., instructions run on a processing device to performhardware simulation), or a combination thereof. The method 400 candetermine whether a browsing tab containing a media player that isstreaming media content is visible to a user of the computing devicerunning the browser. For simplicity of explanation, the methods of thisdisclosure are depicted and described as a series of acts. However, actsin accordance with this disclosure can occur in various orders and/orconcurrently, and with other acts not presented and described herein.Furthermore, not all illustrated acts may be required to implement themethods in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. In addition,those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that the methodscould alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated statesvia a state diagram or events. Additionally, it should be appreciatedthat the methods disclosed in this specification are capable of beingstored on an article of manufacture to facilitate transporting andtransferring such methods to computing devices. The term “article ofmanufacture,” as used herein, is intended to encompass a computerprogram accessible from any computer-readable device or storage media.In one implementation, method 400 may be performed by visibility monitor114, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to FIG. 4, at block 410, method 400 receives a request forvisibility status of a media player tab, such as browsing tab 310. Inone implementation, request receiving module 202 receives the request,for example, from media server 130.

The request may identify the tab 310 of web browser 112 in which a mediaplayer 312 is playing streamed media content, such as media file 132. Inone implementation, the request is in the form of an API call made, forexample, to visibility monitor 114. In one implementation, visibilitymonitor 114 is the Page Visibility API. Upon receiving the request,request receiving module 202 may forward the request to, or otherwisenotify, visibility state determining module 204 that the request hasbeen received from media server 130. In other implementations, therequest may be received from some other source besides media server 130.

At block 420, method 400 determines if the media player tab 310 isvisible to the user. Visibility state determining module 204 candetermine whether the requested tab of web browser 112 is currentlyvisible to the user. Browsing tab 310 may be visible to the user when itis selected, activated, or running in the foreground of web browser 112.Any additional tabs, such as browsing tab 320, are in the background,and the content displayed therein is generally not visible to the user.Visibility state determining module 204 can determine whether eachbrowsing tab is activated or not, and if activated, determine that thebrowsing tab is visible. If at block 420, method 400 determines that thebrowsing tab 310 is visible, at block 430, method 400 sets the statevalue for browsing tab 310 to “visible.” If at block 420, method 400determines that the browsing tab 310 is not visible, at block 440,method 400 sets the state value for browsing tab 310 to “hidden.” In oneimplementation, visibility state determining module 204 can store thevalue in tab visibility status information 242. Alternatively, the stepsat blocks 420 and 430 are not performed in response to block 410. In oneimplementation, the visibility status is updated by a different process(e.g., every time a different tab is selected) and method 400 will onlyneed to access this information, rather than sending a specific request.

At block 450, method 400 returns the determined state value to therequestor. In one implementation, request responding module 206 canrespond to the request for the visibility status of a particular tab.Request responding module 206 can read the current value stored in tabvisibility status information 242 for the particular tab and send aresponse, including the value, to the requestor. In one implementationwhere the requestor is media server 130, request responding module 206can send the response over network 140.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a video quality module fordynamically adjusting video quality, according to some implementations.In one implementation, video quality module 134 includes visibilitystate requestor 502, video quality controller 504 media streamcommunicator 506. This arrangement of modules may be a logicalseparation, and in other implementations, these modules or othercomponents can be combined together or separated in further components,according to a particular implementation. In one implementation, storagedevice 540 is connected to video quality module 134 and includes mediafile 132. In one implementation, media server 130 may include videoquality module 134 and storage device 540. In another implementation,storage device 540 may be external to media server 130 and may beconnected to media server 130 over a network or other connection. Inother implementations media server 130 may include different and/oradditional components which are not shown to simplify the description.Storage device 540 may include one or more mass storage devices whichcan include, for example, flash memory, magnetic or optical disks, ortape drives; read-only memory (ROM); random-access memory (RAM);erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROM and EEPROM); flash memory; orany other type of storage medium.

In one implementation, visibility state requestor 502 generates andissues a request to user device 110 for the visibility status of a tabof web browser 112 in which media player 312 is running. The request mayspecify the particular browsing tab 310 or may be for the status of alltabs in web browser 112. In one implementation, visibility staterequestor 502 may repeatedly issue a request at periodic intervals. Inanother implementation, visibility state requestor 502 may issue therequest in response to a command from an administrator or other entity.In response to the request, visibility state requestor 502 can receive avalue indicating the visibility status (e.g., “visible” or “hidden”)from visibility monitor 114 on user device 110.

In one implementation, video quality controller 504 can dynamicallyadjust the quality of a video component of media file 132 or halttransmission of the video component completely. In one implementation,media server 130 may be streaming media file 132 to user device 110. Ifvisibility state requestor 502 receives an indication from the userdevice 110 that the browsing tab 310 containing the media player is notvisible to the user, video quality controller 504 may decrease thequality of the media component. For example, video quality controller504 may reduce the resolution of the video component of media file 132that is streamed to user device 110. In another implementation, mediastream communicator 506 may halt transmission of the video componentcompletely. In either case, the audio component of the streaming mediamay remain unchanged, so that the user can continue to hearcorresponding sound. Similarly, if visibility state requestor 502receives an indication that the browsing tab 310 has become visibleagain, video quality controller 504 can increase the quality of thevideo component of media file 132 back to an original or defaultquality, or media stream communicator 506 can resume transmission of thevideo component.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for dynamically adjustingvideo quality, according to an implementation of the present disclosure.The method 600 may be performed by processing logic that compriseshardware (e.g., circuitry, dedicated logic, programmable logic,microcode, etc.), software (e.g., instructions run on a processingdevice to perform hardware simulation), or a combination thereof. Themethod 600 can dynamically adjust video quality based on whether thestreaming video is visible to a user. In one implementation, method 600may be performed by video quality module 134 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.5.

Referring to FIG. 6, at block 610, method 600 requests the visibilitystatus of a browsing tab 310 of web browser 112 containing media player312. In one implementation, visibility state requestor 502 generates andissues a request to user device 110 for the visibility status of thebrowsing tab 310. In one implementation, visibility state requestor 502may repeatedly issue a request at periodic intervals. In anotherimplementation, visibility state requestor 502 may issue the request inresponse to a command from an administrator or other entity. In responseto the request, at block 620, method 600 receives an indication of therequested visibility state. Visibility state requestor 502 can receive avalue indicating the visibility status (e.g., “visible” or “hidden”)from visibility monitor 114 on user device 110. Alternatively, userdevice 110 can provide an update to the visibility status each time thestatus changes during media streaming.

At block 630, method 600 determines if the received visibility status isset to “visible” or if the received indication otherwise indicates thatthe browsing tab 310 is active. In one implementation, the visibilitystatus will be set to either “visible” or “hidden.” In otherimplementations, however, some other indication may be provided. If atblock 630, method 600 determines that the visibility status is not setto “visible,” at block 640, method 600 halts transmission of the videocomponent or decreases the quality of the video. For example, videoquality controller 504 may reduce the resolution of the video componentof media file 132 that is streamed to user device 110. In anotherimplementation, media stream communicator 506 may halt transmission ofthe video component completely.

If at block 630, method 600 determines that the visibility status is setto “visible,” at block 650, method 600 determines if the video componentof media file 132 is currently halted or has the quality currentlydecreased. In one implementation, the video component of media file 132may have a default quality setting. This may be for example, the highestresolution supported by user device 110 or some intermediate resolution.In one implementation, the default quality may be set by the user ofuser device 110. Upon being reduced at block 640, the video quality maybe reduced to a lower resolution than the default or standardresolution. Video quality controller 504 may determine what qualitysetting is currently being used to stream the video component to userdevice 110. If at block 650, method 600 determines that the videocomponent is currently halted or has had the quality decreased, at block660, method 600 resumes transmission of the video component or increasesthe quality back to the default setting. If at block 650, method 600determines that the video component is not currently halted or has nothad the quality decreased, at block 670, method 700 maintains thecurrent video quality (or allows the video to remain halted).

FIG. 7 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a machine in theexemplary form of a computer system 700 within which a set ofinstructions, for causing the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein, may be executed. In alternativeimplementations, the machine may be connected (e.g., networked) to othermachines in a local area network (LAN), an intranet, an extranet, or theInternet. The machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient machine in a client-server network environment, or as a peermachine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. Themachine may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box(STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a webappliance, a server, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machinecapable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise)that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only asingle machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken toinclude any collection of machines that individually or jointly executea set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more ofthe methodologies discussed herein. In one implementation, computersystem 700 may be representative of a server, such as web server 120, ormedia server 130, running video quality module 134.

The exemplary computer system 700 includes a processing device 702, amain memory 704 (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamicrandom access memory (DRAM) (such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) or RambusDRAM (RDRAM), etc.), a static memory 706 (e.g., flash memory, staticrandom access memory (SRAM), etc.), and a data storage device 718, whichcommunicate with each other via a bus 730. Any of the signals providedover various buses described herein may be time multiplexed with othersignals and provided over one or more common buses. Additionally, theinterconnection between circuit components or blocks may be shown asbuses or as single signal lines. Each of the buses may alternatively beone or more single signal lines and each of the single signal lines mayalternatively be buses.

Processing device 702 represents one or more general-purpose processingdevices such as a microprocessor, central processing unit, or the like.More particularly, the processing device may be complex instruction setcomputing (CISC) microprocessor, reduced instruction set computer (RISC)microprocessor, very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, orprocessor implementing other instruction sets, or processorsimplementing a combination of instruction sets. Processing device 702may also be one or more special-purpose processing devices such as anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), network processor,or the like. The processing device 702 is configured to executeprocessing logic 726 for performing the operations and steps discussedherein.

The computer system 700 may further include a network interface device708. The computer system 700 also may include a video display unit 710(e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), analphanumeric input device 712 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 714 (e.g., a mouse), and a signal generation device 716 (e.g., aspeaker).

The data storage device 718 may include a machine-readable storagemedium 728, on which is stored one or more set of instructions 722(e.g., software) embodying any one or more of the methodologies offunctions described herein. The instructions 722 may also reside,completely or at least partially, within the main memory 704 and/orwithin the processing device 702 during execution thereof by thecomputer system 700; the main memory 704 and the processing device 702also constituting machine-readable storage media. The instructions 722may further be transmitted or received over a network 720 via thenetwork interface device 708.

The machine-readable storage medium 728 may also be used to storeinstructions to perform a method for dynamically adjusting videoquality, as described herein. While the machine-readable storage medium728 is shown in an exemplary implementation to be a single medium, theterm “machine-readable storage medium” should be taken to include asingle medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributeddatabase, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one ormore sets of instructions. A machine-readable medium includes anymechanism for storing information in a form (e.g., software, processingapplication) readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). Themachine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, magneticstorage medium (e.g., floppy diskette); optical storage medium (e.g.,CD-ROM); magneto-optical storage medium; read-only memory (ROM);random-access memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROMand EEPROM); flash memory; or another type of medium suitable forstoring electronic instructions.

The preceding description sets forth numerous specific details such asexamples of specific systems, components, methods, and so forth, inorder to provide a good understanding of several implementations of thepresent disclosure. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art,however, that at least some implementations of the present disclosuremay be practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well-known components or methods are not described in detail or arepresented in simple block diagram format in order to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring the present disclosure. Thus, the specific details set forthare merely exemplary. Particular implementations may vary from theseexemplary details and still be contemplated to be within the scope ofthe present disclosure.

Reference throughout this specification to “one implementation” or “animplementation” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the implementations includedin at least one implementation. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “inone implementation” or “in an implementation” in various placesthroughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame implementation. In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean aninclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.”

Although the operations of the methods herein are shown and described ina particular order, the order of the operations of each method may bealtered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse orderor so that certain operation may be performed, at least in part,concurrently with other operations. In another implementation,instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be in anintermittent and/or alternating manner.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving, by a server, dataindicating a visibility status of an element of a user interfaceprovided on a user device; determining, based on the data indicating thevisibility status of the element, whether the element of the userinterface is currently visible on the user interface provided on theuser device based on whether the element of the user interface is behindanother element of the user interface, the element of the user interfacecomprising a streaming media player; and in response to the element ofthe user interface not currently being visible on the user interfacewhen the element of the user interface is behind the another element ofthe user interface, decreasing, by a processing device of the server, aquality of a video component of a streaming media file playing in thestreaming media player by halting a transmission of the video componentof the streaming media file over a network from the server to the userdevice.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: maintaining aquality of an audio component of the streaming media file playing in thestreaming media player in response to the element of the user interfacenot currently being visible on the user interface.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the decreasing of the quality of the video componentcorresponds to a decreasing of a resolution of the video component ofthe streaming media file.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining, based on subsequent data indicating an updated visibilitystatus of the element, that the element of the user interface issubsequently visible on the user interface provided on the user device;and increasing the quality of the video component of the streaming mediafile from the decreased quality in response to the subsequent dataindicating that the element of the user interface is subsequentlyvisible on the user interface provided on the device.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the decreasing of the quality of the video componentcorresponds to a change in the streaming media file that is transmittedfrom the server to the user device.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinthe user interface is a web browser, wherein the element is a tab of theweb browser, and wherein the element of the user interface is notcurrently visible on the user interface when another element of the userinterface is currently visible on the user interface, and wherein theanother element of the user interface comprises content not includingthe streaming media player.
 7. A system comprising: a memory; and aprocessing device, operatively coupled with the memory, to: receive, bya server, data indicating a visibility status of an element of a userinterface provided on a user device; determine, based on the dataindicating the visibility status of the element, whether the element ofthe user interface is currently visible on the user interface providedon the user device based on whether the element of the user interface isbehind another element of the user interface, the element of the userinterface comprising a streaming media player; and in response to theelement of the user interface not currently being visible on the userinterface when the element of the user interface is behind the anotherelement of the user interface, decrease a quality of a video componentof a streaming media file playing in the streaming media player byhalting a transmission of the video component of the streaming mediafile over a network from the server to the user device.
 8. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the processing device is further to: maintain a qualityof an audio component of the streaming media file playing in thestreaming media player in response to the element of the user interfacenot currently being visible on the user interface.
 9. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the decreasing of the quality of the video componentcorresponds to a decreasing of a resolution of the video component ofthe streaming media file.
 10. The system of claim 7, wherein theprocessing device is further to: determine, based on subsequent dataindicating an updated visibility status of the element, that the elementof the user interface is subsequently visible on the user interfaceprovided on the user device; and increase the quality of the videocomponent of the streaming media file from the decreased quality inresponse to the subsequent data indicating that the element of the userinterface is subsequently visible on the user interface provided on thedevice.
 11. The system of claim 7, wherein the decreasing of the qualityof the video component corresponds to a change in the streaming mediafile that is transmitted from the server to the user device.
 12. Thesystem of claim 7, wherein the user interface is a web browser, andwherein the element is a tab of the web browser.
 13. A non-transitorycomputer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed bya processing device, cause the processing device to perform operationscomprising: receiving, by a server, data indicating a visibility statusof an element of a user interface provided on a user device;determining, based on the data indicating the visibility status of theelement, whether the element of the user interface is currently visibleon the user interface provided on the user device based on whether theelement of the user interface is behind another element of the userinterface, the element of the user interface comprising a streamingmedia player; and in response to the element of the user interface notcurrently being visible on the user interface when the element of theuser interface is behind the another element of the user interface,decreasing, by the processing device of the server, a quality of a videocomponent of a streaming media file playing in the streaming mediaplayer by halting a transmission of the video component of the streamingmedia file over a network from the server to the user device.
 14. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, the operationsfurther comprising: maintaining a quality of an audio component of thestreaming media file playing in the streaming media player in responseto the element of the user interface not currently being visible on theuser interface.
 15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim13, wherein the decreasing of the quality of the video componentcorresponds to a decreasing of a resolution of the video component ofthe streaming media file.
 16. The non-transitory computer readablemedium of claim 15, the operations further comprising: determining,based on subsequent data indicating an updated visibility status of theelement, that the element of the user interface is subsequently visibleon the user interface provided on the user device; and increasing thequality of the video component of the streaming media file from thedecreased quality in response to the subsequent data indicating that theelement of the user interface is subsequently visible on the userinterface provided on the device.
 17. The non-transitory computerreadable medium of claim 13, wherein the decreasing of the quality ofthe video component corresponds to a change in the streaming media filethat is transmitted from the server to the user device.